Drill core sample holder

ABSTRACT

A drill core sample holder that receives drill core samples therein, has a lower housing formed as a unitary structure of plastic material that defines a plurality of lower channels therein and an upper housing formed as a unitary structure of plastic material that defines a plurality of upper channels therein. The upper housing is adapted to be mounted onto the lower housing in a mounted position in which each lower channel is aligned with a respective one of the upper channels so that the lower channel and the respective upper channel collectively define a tubular receptacle for containing a respective drill core sample therein.

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/770,584, filed Nov. 21, 2018.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a holder comprising an elongated housing having a plurality of elongated receptacles formed therein to receive drill core samples within the receptacles.

BACKGROUND

In the exploration of deposits of ores, minerals and the like, it is common to form a test bore in the earth using well-known equipment which produces elongate cylindrical samples known as drill core samples. These samples are withdrawn in order and stored in labelled trays for subsequent analysis. Most commonly, the trays are formed with wood to define an elongated box with dividers therein to form elongated receptacles receiving respective drill core samples longitudinally therein. The wooden boxes conventionally used are labour intensive and therefore costly to manufacture as well as being bulky and cumbersome in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a drill core sample holder for receiving drill core samples therein, the holder comprising:

a lower housing formed as a unitary structure of plastic material and defining a plurality of lower channels therein; and

an upper housing formed as a unitary structure of plastic material and defining a plurality of upper channels therein and being adapted to be mounted onto the lower housing in a mounted position in which each lower channel is aligned with a respective one of the upper channels so that the lower channel and the respective upper channel collectively define a tubular receptacle for containing a respective drill core sample therein.

Use of a plastic material for forming an upper housing and a lower housing of a drill core sample holder provides a lower cost method of producing receptacles suitable for receiving drill core samples therein. By forming separate upper and lower housings which are identical to one another, manufacturing costs can be further reduced. The upper and lower housings are preferably able to be nested within one another to reduce storage requirements prior to receiving drill core samples therein.

In one embodiment, the lower housing may be stackable onto an auxiliary lower housing of identical configuration so that the lower channels of the lower housing are at least partially nested downwardly into the lower channels of the auxiliary lower housing. In addition, the upper housing may be stackable onto an auxiliary upper housing of identical configuration so that the upper channels of the upper housing are at least partially nested into the upper channels of the auxiliary upper housing. Furthermore, the upper housing may be stackable onto the lower housing so that the upper channels of the upper housing are at least partially nested into the lower channels of the lower housing.

When the upper housing includes a pair of opposing side flanges and the lower housing includes a pair of opposing side flanges, preferably each of the side flanges of the upper housing is adapted to be coupled to a respective one of the side flanges of the lower housing using pairs of mating connectors formed on the side edges respectively, each pair of mating connectors including one hook formed on one of the housings and one catch formed on the other one of the housings which selectively retains the hook engaged thereon in a mounted position of the upper housing on the lower housing.

When the upper and lower housings are identical, preferably each housing includes a plurality of hooks formed at spaced positions along one side thereof and a plurality of catches formed at spaced positions along another side thereof in which each catch selectively retains a corresponding one of the hooks of the other housing thereon in a mounted position of the upper housing on the lower housing.

In the illustrated embodiment, each channel has (i) two side walls extending in a longitudinal direction of the channel in which the side walls taper inwardly towards one another from an open side to an inner end of the channel, and (ii) two end wall at opposing ends of the side walls which taper longitudinally inwardly towards one another from the open side to the inner end of the channel.

The end walls may each form part of a surface of a sphere in shape.

Each channel may further comprise a pair of divider ribs, each protruding radially inwardly from a wall of the channel between a partly cylindrical main portion of the channel and an end portion defined by a corresponding one of the end walls of the channel.

Each channel may further include a plurality of drain holes formed in a wall of the channel of each housing portion.

The holder may further include a radiofrequency (RF) tag supported on one of the upper and lower housings.

Each housing may consists of a molded composite of plastic with glass fibers therein to provide sufficient strength to carry the weight associated with drill core samples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One embodiment of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembled drill core sample holder;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the assembled drill core sample holder;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the upper housing shown separated from the lower housing;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the lower housing;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an upper housing in alignment above a lower housing for stacking;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the upper housing partially nested into the lower housing;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a plurality of housings stacked together in a nested configuration;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the open side of an upper housing separated from a lower housing; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the upper housing in an open configuration relative to the lower housing which receives a plurality of drill core samples therein.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the accompanying figures there is illustrated a drill core sample holder generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The holder includes an upper housing portion 12 and a lower housing portion 14 which are assembled together to form a case which encloses drill core samples 16 therein in a closed or mounted position of the housing portions relative to one another. The drill core samples are elongate cylindrical sections of material which have been removed from the earth when using a drill to produce core samples.

Each of the upper and lower housing portions are identical to one another so as to enable moulding from the same mould. More particularly each housing portion is formed as a single unitary structure which has been injection moulded out of a common material which is continuous and seamless throughout the unitary structure thereof. In the preferred embodiment each housing portion is moulded of a plastic material having glass fibers distributed therethrough, for example ABS, nylon or polypropylene with glass fibers which is moulded to form a rigid finished product.

Each housing portion is elongate in a longitudinal direction and forms a plurality of channels 18 therein which are parallel to one another and which extend in the longitudinal direction of the housing portion substantially the full length thereof between the opposing ends of the housing portion. Each channel is semicircular in profile and is sized so as to receive approximately half of the cylindrical shape of the drill samples therein. In this manner, each upper housing includes a plurality of upper channels formed therein and each lower housing portion includes a plurality of lower channels formed therein.

Each housing portion includes a flat top side which locates the opening of each channel 18 therein such that the top side of the housing portion is the open side thereof which is mounted in engagement against the open side of the opposing housing portion when mounting the housing portions together to collectively form the assembled holder 10.

Each channel includes a pair of side walls 20 which are curved downwardly and inwardly towards one another from the open top side of the housing portion to an inner end of the channel at the bottom side of the housing portion. The side walls have a concave inner surface such that the side walls 20 collectively define a semicircular cross-section extending halfway about the circumference of a drill core sample received therein.

Each channel of each housing portion has a main portion 22 forming part of a cylinder in shape while being generally linear in the longitudinal direction, and a pair of end portions 24 located at opposing ends of the main portion. Each end portion effectively defines an end wall which tapers downwardly and longitudinally inwardly from the open top side of the housing portion to the inner end of the channel at the bottom side of the housing portion such that the end portion forms a portion of a surface of a sphere.

Each housing portion also includes a perimeter flange surrounding each of the channels 18 at the open side thereof such that the perimeter flanges 26 lie in a common plane at the top side of the housing. More particularly, a perimeter flange 26 extends longitudinally along both opposing sides of the housing portion and across both ends of the housing portion, as well as extending longitudinally at a plurality of intermediate locations between adjacent ones of the channels. In the mounted position of the upper housing against the lower housing, the perimeter flanges 26 of the upper housing are mounted flat against the perimeter flanges of the lower housing.

In order to secure the upper housing relative to the lower housing in a mounted position, each housing portion is provided with a plurality of hooks 28 formed at longitudinally spaced apart positions along one side edge of the corresponding perimeter flange 26 at one side of the housing, and a plurality of catches 30 formed at longitudinally spaced apart positions along an opposing side edge of the corresponding perimeter flange at the other side of the housing. Each hook 28 protrudes upwardly from the perimeter flange 26 opposite the channels and includes an inner hooking portion which projects laterally inwardly towards the opposing side of the housing. Each catch comprises a recess extending radially inwardly from the corresponding side edge of the housing to receive a portion of a respective one of the hooks 28 therein so that the inner hooking portion of the hook clamps the perimeter flange 26 of the opposing housing against the perimeter flange 26 upon which the hook is mounted.

Due to the upper and lower housing portion being identical to one another, inverting the upper housing portion about a longitudinal axis thereof allows the open sides to be mounted against one another so that the catches 30 along one side of the upper housing are aligned with and receive the hooks 28 of the lower housing portion therein while the hooks on the upper housing portion are aligned with and extend into corresponding catches 30 on the other side of the lower housing portion. All of the hooks can be simultaneously engaged upon respective catches by initially abutting the open sides of the upper and lower housing portions against one another with a slight lateral offset therebetween so that laterally sliding the upper and lower housing portions into alignment with one another causes all of the hooks to be slidably engaged into the respective catches for fixing the upper and lower housings relative to one another in a mounted position.

In the mounted position of the upper housing on the lower housing, each upper channel is aligned with a corresponding one of the lower channels such that the upper and lower channels together form a common cylindrical receptacle which fully surrounds the circumference of a cylindrical drill core sample received therein.

Each housing portion further includes a label panel 32 integrally formed on the perimeter flange at one end of the housing portion. The label panel includes a flat surface facing longitudinally outward which extends downwardly from the perimeter flange at the open top side of the housing portion so as not to interfere with the abutment of the open sides of two housing portions together in the mounted position. The label panel includes a pair of opposed retention flanges 34 along opposing top and bottom edges of the panel in which the retention flanges form hooks suitable for extending over and retaining opposing edges of a label laying flat against the outward facing surface of the label panel.

The channels formed within each housing portion are configured to taper downwardly and inwardly from the open top side to the inner bottom end of the channel along both side walls 20 due to the semi-cylindrical profile thereof and as well at both end walls due to the spherical shape of the two end portions 24. Due to the tapering of the cross-sectional area of the channel in both lateral and longitudinal directions, each channel can be readily nested downwardly and inwardly into the open top side of a channel of another housing portion therebelow when a plurality of the housing portions are stacked together with the open side thereof all commonly facing upwardly so that the housing portions are in the same orientation. By orienting the label panel 32 to also extend downwardly at a longitudinally outward slope, the label panels can also readily overlap one another so as not to interfere with nesting of one housing portion downwardly into another one of the housing portions of identical configuration.

Each channel further includes a divider rim 36 formed on the interior surface thereof at both opposing ends of each main portion 22 such that each divider rim 36 is provided at an intersection of the main portion and a corresponding one of the end portions 24. The main portion 22 in which the inner surface of the channel is cylindrical in shape is thus defined as spanning longitudinally between the divider ribs 36 at opposing ends whereas the end portions 24 are defined as the portions of the channels extending longitudinally outward beyond the respective ribs 36.

Each divider rib 36 comprises a flange extending radially inwardly about a lower portion of the circumference of the inner surface of the channel. The divider rib 36 has its greatest height at the inner bottom end of the channel where the height of the divider rim corresponds approximately between one and two times the thickness of the wall of the channel. The height of the divider rib 36 tapers as the divider rim extends upwardly along each of the side walls so that there is no divider ribs provided along the upright portions of the side wall 20 in proximity to the open top side of the housing portion. In this manner, the divider ribs 36 also do not interfere with nesting of the housing portions relative to one another. Each divider member 36 may include a gap formed at a central location therein acting as a drainage slot to permit any fluid collected within each end portion to drain into the main portion through the gap in the divider ribs. The divider ribs 36 serve primarily to assist in locating the drill core samples along the main portion of each channel such that the drill core samples are prevented from longitudinal sliding into the end portions 24 in a manner which causes interference with the end walls when attempting to mount the upper panel onto the lower panel in a closed position.

A plurality of drain holes 38 are formed in the boundary wall of the channel at the inner bottom end thereof opposite the open top side of the housing portion so that fluid accumulated within the main portion of each channel can drain downwardly through the drain holes.

The label panels 32 each include a radiofrequency (RF) tag fixed thereon which includes a unique serial number associated therewith. The RF tag can be read by suitable RF scanning equipment to read the unique serial number associated therewith which serves to identify the associated holder 10.

Each receptacle has a length along the main portions of the channels between the divider ribs at opposing ends which is near 100 centimeters. In this manner, the combined length of the receptacles on one holder when forming a holder having four adjacent receptacles is approximately 400 centimeters which comfortably receives 10 feet of core samples therein even when the core samples are formed in broken sections which are difficult to pack closely to one another in end to end relationship.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense. 

1. A drill core sample holder for receiving drill core samples therein, the holder comprising: a lower housing formed as a unitary structure of plastic material and defining a plurality of lower channels therein; and an upper housing formed as a unitary structure of plastic material and defining a plurality of upper channels therein and being adapted to be mounted onto the lower housing in a mounted position in which each lower channel is aligned with a respective one of the upper channels so that the lower channel and the respective upper channel collectively define a tubular receptacle for containing a respective drill core sample therein.
 2. The holder according to claim 1 wherein the lower housing is stackable onto an auxiliary lower housing of identical configuration so that the lower channels of the lower housing are at least partially nested downwardly into the lower channels of the auxiliary lower housing.
 3. The holder according to claim 1 wherein the upper housing is stackable onto an auxiliary upper housing of identical configuration so that the upper channels of the upper housing are at least partially nested into the upper channels of the auxiliary upper housing.
 4. The holder according to claim 1 wherein the upper housing is stackable onto the lower housing so that the upper channels of the upper housing are at least partially nested into the lower channels of the lower housing.
 5. The holder according to claim 1 wherein the upper housing includes a pair of opposing side flanges and the lower housing includes a pair of opposing side flanges, each of the side flanges of the upper housing being adapted to be coupled to a respective one of the side flanges of the lower housing using pairs of mating connectors formed on the side edges respectively, the pair of mating connectors includomg one hook formed on one of the housings and one catch formed on the other one of the housings which selectively retains the hook engaged thereon in a mounted position of the upper housing on the lower housing.
 6. The holder according to claim 1 wherein the upper housing and the lower housing are identical to one another.
 7. The holder according to claim 6 wherein each housing includes a plurality of hooks formed at spaced positions along one side thereof and a plurality of catches formed at spaced positions along another side thereof in which each catch selectively retains a corresponding one of the hooks of the other housing thereon in a mounted position of the upper housing on the lower housing.
 8. The holder according to claim 1 wherein each channel has (i) two side walls extending in a longitudinal direction of the channel in which the side walls taper inwardly towards one another from an open side to an inner end of the channel, and (ii) two end walls at opposing ends of the side walls which taper longitudinally inwardly towards one another from the open side to the inner end of the channel.
 9. The holder according to claim 8 wherein the end walls form part of a surface of a sphere in shape.
 10. The holder according to e claim 8 wherein each channel further comprises a pair of divider ribs, each protruding radially inwardly from a wall of the channel between a partly cylindrical main portion of the channel and an end portion defined by a corresponding one of the end walls of the channel.
 11. The holder according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of drain holes formed in a wall of the channel of each housing portion.
 12. The holder according to claim 1 further comprising a radiofrequency tag supported on one of the upper and lower housings.
 13. The holder according to claim 1 wherein each housing consists of a molded composite of plastic with glass fibers therein. 